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Alcohol Use Problems / Questions

Short-term Health Effects of too much alcohol use may increase risk of:

  • Injuries and violence
  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • Miscarriage, early birth, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if you drink alcohol while pregnant.

Long-term Health Effects include:

  • Changes in heart rate
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke (serious)
  • Liver Disease (serious). As the liver gets damaged, you will start to feel tired, sick to your stomach and weak. You will not feel hungry and lose weight. You may also notice:
    • Skin and whites of the eyes turning yellow
    • Vomiting blood
    • Itching
    • Dark urine and black tarry stools
    • More bleeding and bruising than normal
    • Swollen legs or stomach
    • Low sex drive
  • Cancer (serious). Too much alcohol can lead to cancer of the mouth and throat, voice box, esophagus, colon, rectum, liver and breast.
  • Delirium tremens (DTs) (serious) are very bad withdrawal symptoms that happen 2-3 days after stopping alcohol. DTs may cause you to tremble and feel confused or upset. You might also see and hear things that are not there. DTs can be deadly.
  • Lack of Vitamin B1-thiamine (serious). Many heavy drinkers do not eat healthy foods, which causes a lack of Vitamin B1. Symptoms include stumbling, confusion, loss of muscle control and body shakes.
  • Pancreatitis (serious) is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be short term, long term and sometimes deadly. Early symptoms are severe stomach pain and vomiting. These can lead to blood poisoning and death.
  • Detoxification (detox). If you drink heavily and often, you may have withdrawal symptoms around three hours after your last drink. Withdrawal can cause upset stomach, shaking, sweating and cravings for alcohol. If you do not have any more alcohol, the symptoms will go away in about 5-7 days. The craving for alcohol will last longer. You should not try to stop alcohol all at once without help. Detox is often done at a center where you can get medical care to help with withdrawal symptoms.